Fire Damage Restoration — Draper, UT IICRC S700 Response

Fire damage restoration is qualitatively different from water damage or mold response. The primary damage — combustion products, thermal damage to structural materials, and water damage from fire suppression — presents an interlocking set of problems that require sequenced response. Get the sequence wrong and you spread contamination throughout the property, embed odors permanently into porous materials, and produce reconstruction costs that dwarf the original fire damage. Get the sequence right and even significant fire damage can be restored to pre-loss condition. This page documents EcoRestore’s ANSI/IICRC S700 fire damage restoration protocols across Draper, Sandy, South Jordan, Riverton, Bluffdale, and White City.

Ronald Kirschner serves as our FSRT (Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician) Lead, with dual IICRC certifications FSRT-124857 and FSRT-134721. Every fire response is scoped, sequenced, and supervised under his direction.

The Interlocking Problems After a Fire

Combustion Products

Fire produces soot, ash, and combustion residues that coat surfaces throughout the affected area (and typically well beyond it, following HVAC air currents and thermal convection). Combustion products carry the volatile organic compounds and chemical residues that produce persistent fire odor. Untreated combustion residues embed odors into porous materials over 24–72 hours, making later removal significantly more difficult.

Water and Chemical Damage from Suppression

Fire suppression by fire department typically discharges thousands of gallons of water into the structure, often mixed with chemical suppression agents. Water damage from suppression can equal or exceed the primary fire damage in scope. Standing water combined with combustion residues creates immediate mold risk within the standard 24–72 hour window.

Thermal Damage to Structural Materials

Materials exposed to fire heat undergo thermal degradation: charring, spalling, sheathing failure, framing char, and hidden structural damage inside wall assemblies. Structural engineer consultation is required for anything beyond superficial thermal damage before reconstruction planning.

Contents Damage

Personal contents (furniture, clothing, electronics, documents, sentimental items) suffer smoke penetration, soot deposition, and often water damage from suppression. Salvage requires prompt pack-out to controlled restoration facility for cleaning and deodorization, or documented disposal for items beyond salvage.

Air Quality and Contamination

Combustion products aerosolized during firefighting and afterwards contaminate the indoor air, HVAC ductwork, and surfaces throughout the property. Occupants entering the property without PPE are exposed to particulate and volatile chemical residues.

Immediate Response — The First 24 Hours

Structural Stability Assessment

Before anyone re-enters the property, the fire marshal or structural engineer determines whether the structure is safe to enter. Roof damage, wall damage, and floor damage from fire and firefighting can make partial or full collapse possible. EcoRestore’s initial response coordinates with the fire marshal on entry authorization, and with structural engineers for anything beyond superficial thermal damage.

Board-Up and Security

Openings created by firefighting (broken windows, ventilation cuts in the roof, forced-entry doors) leave the property exposed to weather, wildlife, and secondary damage. Emergency board-up typically happens within 4–12 hours of the fire being declared out. Steven Kraft coordinates board-up crews on our responses. See the fire damage board-up page for detailed board-up protocols.

Water Extraction from Suppression

Fire suppression water becomes Category 2 (grey water) within 24 hours due to contamination from combustion residues and building materials, and Category 3 (black water) within 48–72 hours. Prompt extraction limits progression and enables drying to begin. Water extraction proceeds under S500 protocols in parallel with other fire response activities.

Utilities Assessment

Gas, electrical, and water utilities require assessment before restoration work proceeds. Gas leaks from fire-damaged connections require utility company response before EcoRestore enters. Electrical systems damaged by fire or water require electrician assessment before power is restored to any affected panels or circuits. Water supply lines may need repair before drying operations can proceed with reliable water availability.

Emergency Contents Pack-Out

Salvageable contents are inventoried, photographed, and moved to controlled restoration facility for cleaning and deodorization. Non-salvageable contents are documented for insurance disposition. Contents pack-out typically begins within 24–48 hours of fire suppression completion. See the contents cleaning and pack-out page for details.

Smoke Residue Categories — What Type of Fire Produced What

Smoke residues vary significantly based on what burned and how completely. Different residues require different cleaning approaches:

Dry Smoke Residue

Produced by fast, hot, oxygen-rich fires typically consuming paper, wood, and cellulose materials. Residue is powdery, dry, and less penetrative. Responds well to dry chemical sponge cleaning (chemical sponges without water), HEPA vacuuming, and standard detergent wash on non-porous surfaces. Least difficult smoke residue category to remediate.

Wet Smoke Residue

Produced by slow, cool, oxygen-starved fires typically consuming plastics, rubber, and synthetic materials. Residue is sticky, oily, and highly penetrative — smearing when disturbed with dry cleaning methods. Requires specialty solvent-based cleaners applied wet, extensive contact time, and multiple cleaning passes. Wet smoke residues are the most difficult category to remediate and typically produce the most persistent odors.

Protein Residue

Produced by protein-based fires (kitchen fires involving cooking oil, meat, dairy). Residue is nearly invisible on surfaces but produces intense persistent odor. Standard cleaning methods often fail to detect and remove protein residue because there’s little visible indication of contamination. Requires specialty enzymatic cleaners and typically thermal fogging for complete odor elimination.

Fuel Oil Soot

Produced by fuel oil furnace puffbacks and heating oil fires. Residue is oily, sticky, and particularly hard on painted surfaces where it produces immediate discoloration if not addressed within days. Requires specialty petroleum-solvent cleaners and often surface refinishing beyond simple cleaning.

Fireplace and Stove Soot

Produced by wood-burning fireplaces and stoves with poor combustion or chimney draft failures. Different from wildfire soot — contains creosote and specific combustion byproducts requiring targeted cleaning approaches.

Ronald Kirschner’s assessment identifies the specific residue type on arrival, and the cleaning protocols are matched to the residue category rather than following a generic “smoke damage” template.

Cleaning Methods for Fire-Damaged Materials

Dry Cleaning

Chemical sponges (also called soot sponges or dry cleaning sponges) — specialized rubber sponges that lift dry smoke residue from surfaces without smearing. Effective on dry smoke residues on non-porous and semi-porous surfaces (drywall, wood, upholstery, textiles). Cannot be used on wet smoke residues (produces smearing).

Wet Cleaning

Detergent solutions applied to affected surfaces with cleaning tools (sponges, cloths, brushes) followed by rinse water and drying. Standard for wet smoke residues, protein residue, and any residue with oil content. Uses specialty degreasers and solvent-based cleaners for particularly stubborn residues.

HEPA Vacuuming

HEPA-filtered vacuum on all affected surfaces before and after chemical cleaning. Captures the particulate residues that would otherwise become airborne and re-contaminate cleaned surfaces. Nikro dual-motor HEPA vacuums with specialty attachments for detail work.

Abrasive Cleaning

Media blasting (soda blast, dry ice blast, walnut shell blast) for structural framing with charred surfaces that can’t be cleaned by chemical methods. Removes the char layer and reveals the sound wood beneath, which can then be sealed with encapsulant sealer before drywall reinstallation.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

For hard-goods contents that can be immersed (metal fixtures, ceramics, glass), ultrasonic cleaning provides thorough contamination removal without abrasive damage. Contents pack-out delivers items to controlled facility for ultrasonic processing.

Ozone Deodorization

Ozone generators create ozone (O3) that oxidizes organic odor compounds. Effective for stubborn odors on hard surfaces and hard contents. Requires unoccupied space (ozone is respiratory irritant), typically 4–24 hour treatment cycles, followed by ventilation before re-occupancy.

Thermal Fogging

Deodorization agents heated to gas phase and dispersed as fog throughout the affected space. Penetrates the same tiny cracks and porous surfaces that smoke penetrated, neutralizing embedded odor compounds. Requires unoccupied space during application (typically 4–8 hours), followed by ventilation. Most effective for wet smoke and protein residue odors.

Hydroxyl Deodorization

Hydroxyl generators produce hydroxyl radicals that oxidize odor compounds. Safe for occupied spaces (unlike ozone), operates continuously during cleaning and drying. Slower than ozone but doesn’t require occupant relocation.

EcoRestore’s Fire Damage Services

• Smoke damage cleanup — surface cleaning, HEPA filtration, and residue-specific cleaning protocols. Smoke damage details →
• Air scrubbing and HEPA filtration — indoor air quality restoration during and after fire response. Air scrubbing details →
• Odor removal services — ozone, thermal fogging, hydroxyl, and enzymatic deodorization. Odor removal details →
• Biohazard cleanup — for fire scenes involving trauma or bioload. Biohazard cleanup details →
• Soot removal — specialized cleaning for soot contamination on various surface types. Soot removal details →
• Fire damage board-up — emergency structural boarding after fire. Fire damage board-up details →

Typical Fire Damage Restoration Cost in Draper

Ranges from our 2020–2025 project database:

• Small kitchen or contained-room fire, 100–300 sq ft affected: $12,000–$45,000
• Mid-scope fire with smoke damage throughout adjacent rooms, 800–1,500 sq ft: $45,000–$120,000
• Large residential fire with structural damage, 2,000–3,500 sq ft: $85,000–$285,000
• Full residential fire loss with reconstruction: $150,000–$650,000+ depending on square footage and finish level
• Commercial fire damage: $50,000–$1,500,000+ depending on business type and scope

Fire damage is typically covered under standard homeowner policy for the fire itself, water damage from suppression, contents damage, and additional living expenses during displacement. Coverage limits vary widely by policy — verify dwelling coverage, contents coverage, and ALE limits with your agent.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon should fire damage restoration begin after the fire is out?

The first 24–48 hours are critical. Combustion residues become progressively more difficult to remove as they cure and embed into porous materials. Smoke odors that could be neutralized with prompt response become permanent embedments after 72–96 hours untreated. Water from fire suppression progresses from Category 1 to Category 2 within 24 hours and Category 3 within 48–72 hours. Mold development in wet materials becomes visible within 24–72 hours. The sequence: fire out and utility shutoff (day 0), structural stability assessment and fire marshal release (day 0–1), emergency board-up and water extraction (day 0–1), initial cleaning and HEPA scrubbing (day 1–3), contents pack-out and inventory (day 1–3), detailed cleaning by residue type (day 3–10), drying (day 3–10), deodorization (day 5–15), and reconstruction (day 15–120). Each phase begins as the prior phase reaches milestones. Delay in the first 48 hours cascades into significantly larger scope, longer timeline, and higher cost.

Can smoke damage from a small fire really affect the whole house?

Yes, and it typically does. Smoke migrates aggressively through HVAC ductwork (if the system was operating during the fire or in the hours after), through interior air currents (thermal convection during and immediately after the fire), and through gaps in wall assemblies (electrical outlets, HVAC penetrations, plumbing chases). A small kitchen fire that visibly affects only the kitchen typically deposits smoke residue and odor throughout the property, requiring cleaning and deodorization well beyond the visible damage area. Full-property HEPA scrubbing during the initial response captures airborne combustion products before they settle onto surfaces. Assessment of all rooms (including rooms with closed doors during the fire) identifies contamination extent. Ronald Kirschner’s initial assessment typically identifies smoke damage across 3–10x the visible fire footprint. Homeowners are often surprised by this — but the scope is real, and cleaning only the visibly affected areas leaves persistent odor throughout the property that emerges weeks or months later.

What contents can typically be saved after fire damage?

Depends on the specific items and contamination extent. Salvageable through cleaning and deodorization: hard-goods (metal, ceramic, glass) that can be washed and ultrasonically cleaned; solid wood furniture with surface smoke residue but no thermal damage; textiles that can be professionally laundered with specialty detergents (though heavy wet smoke or protein contamination often exceeds textile salvage); leather goods with light smoke exposure; hard-cover books with light smoke exposure. Non-salvageable typically: soft goods with heavy smoke penetration (upholstered furniture, mattresses); soft plastics that absorbed smoke odors; food and consumables of any type; paper documents with heavy smoke exposure (though some sentimental documents can be professionally restored); electronics with soot penetration into circuit boards; and any items with visible thermal damage. Salvage decisions balance restoration cost against replacement cost — a $3,000 sofa may be worth $400 restoration but not $1,500 restoration, and the insurance carrier’s contents adjuster typically approves replacement over restoration when restoration cost exceeds 60–70% of replacement cost. Contents disposition documentation goes into the claim package with photographs of each disposed item and reason for disposition.

How long does fire damage restoration typically take from start to move-back?

Timeline varies dramatically by scope. Small contained-room fire (kitchen fire, appliance fire, chimney fire) with limited smoke damage: 6–10 weeks call to move-back. Mid-scope fire with smoke throughout adjacent rooms: 10–18 weeks. Large residential fire with structural damage: 4–9 months. Full residential fire loss with reconstruction: 6–18 months. The response phases: emergency response and stabilization (1–5 days), initial cleaning and content pack-out (1–3 weeks), detailed cleaning and drying (2–6 weeks), deodorization (1–3 weeks), reconstruction of affected areas (4–24 weeks), final cleaning and content return (1–2 weeks), post-remediation verification (3–7 days), and move-back coordination. Insurance ALE (Additional Living Expenses) typically covers displacement costs during response. Timeline compression is possible on smaller responses (overtime crews, expedited materials orders) but the drying phase in particular is physics-limited — you can’t rush water out of dense materials faster than they’ll release it. Reconstruction is typically the longest phase and can be affected by material availability, contractor scheduling, and permit timelines.

Does insurance cover fire damage restoration, and are there any exclusions to watch for?

Fire damage is typically covered as a named peril under standard homeowner policies — among the most comprehensively covered scenarios you can experience. Coverage typically includes: the fire damage itself (structure, permanent fixtures), water damage from fire suppression (even though water damage alone is often more restrictively covered), smoke damage throughout the property from the fire, contents damage (up to contents sublimit, typically 50–70% of dwelling coverage), and additional living expenses during displacement (typically 20–30% of dwelling coverage, sometimes 24–36 month duration limit). Common exclusions to watch for: fires started by intentional acts (arson, insurance fraud) are excluded; fires resulting from vacancy of the property beyond 60–90 days without notification are typically excluded; wildfire coverage in high-risk zones (Utah foothill areas classified as Wildland-Urban Interface) may require specific endorsement; some carriers have deductibles specific to fire loss that are higher than the standard policy deductible; and post-restoration inspection or code upgrade costs (bringing damaged sections up to current code during reconstruction) are typically limited to 10–25% of dwelling coverage under ordinance and law coverage. Fire loss claims often exceed six figures — getting the coverage details right during initial assessment matters for both scope planning and payment timing. Vanessa Chandler (our Xactimate Level 3 certified estimator) handles the technical scope-to-coverage matching on fire responses.

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Contact EcoRestore Water Damage & Restoration

Our office at 11629 S 700 E #220 sits half a mile east of I-15 exit 291, in the geographic center of south Salt Lake County. Fire damage response is time-critical — the first 24–48 hours determine much of the eventual scope and cost. If you’re dealing with fire damage right now, call the emergency line for immediate response.

• Emergency Line (24/7): (385) 289-3588
• Address: 11629 S 700 E #220, Draper, UT 84020
• Email: info@ecorestorewaterdamagerestoration.xyz
• Utah DOPL Restoration Contractor License: #12783456-5501
• IICRC Firm Certification: #216847

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Office Hours

• Emergency Service: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Office Staff: Monday – Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Closed: Sundays and State/Federal Holidays (emergency line always active)